Dieter Villalpando, midfielder for Tepatitlán FC, was not included in the squad for the Jornada 7 match of the Apertura 2026 against Dorados de Sinaloa, sparking rumors surrounding his absence.
The situation has caught attention in the soccer world, especially after the emergence of alleged chats on social media between Villalpando and a gambler named Cristian Rey. These messages suggest that the player attempted to join sports betting groups and participated in wagers related to sports such as baseball and American football.
Additionally, some records supposedly attributable to Villalpando indicate that he himself admitted to involvement in these activities. However, the information available on social media does not officially confirm any behavior that would warrant sanctions, nor does it demonstrate that the player was involved in match-fixing.
So far, no formal investigation has been announced against Villalpando, and Tepatitlán FC has not issued a statement regarding his absence from the match. Neither the Liga de Expansión MX nor the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has provided any public comment on the matter.
The controversy intensifies due to the role Villalpando had in the team since his arrival, where he showed a regular performance and even became captain. To date, he has participated in three matches, two as a starter, accumulating 110 minutes of play without goals in this tournament.
The implications of the case are significant, given that the regulation of professional soccer includes restrictions on players regarding betting and behaviors that may compromise the integrity of matches. The FMF’s Sanctions Regulation prohibits players from engaging in betting that seeks to unduly influence the outcome of any match.
These regulations are supported by the FIFA and FMF codes of ethics, which foresee severe penalties for acts of corruption, including fines of up to 2 million pesos and bans from participating in football activities for a minimum of five years, depending on the circumstances. Recently, players from Real Apodaca FC and Correcaminos de la UAT faced sanctions in similar cases, with cumulative penalties exceeding 57 years of suspension for seven players.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, it is important to clarify that the existence of alleged conversations does not automatically imply that match-fixing has occurred or that Villalpando has profited financially. As of now, the 35-year-old athlete remains registered as an active player, with a history that includes clubs such as Pachuca, Tigres, Morelia, and Chivas.
Source: www.infobae.com
